The Attwater

In Newport, where “summer” is a verb, where tennis is still played on grass, and where the very smell in the air is a sort of privileged New England potpourri of ocean breezes, butter-poached seafood and warm-from-the-dryer white laundry, something as down-to-earth as a tasteful little b&b like the Attwater can seem rather revolutionary. For one, they’ve got a penchant for colorful contemporary furnishings — and a quick look at the photos should make it clear that we don’t mean that in some snarky, euphemistic way. In fact the interior design could easily work in any number of the United States’ more design-conscious cities. At the same time, it’s all threaded with subtle nautical references, tinged with teals and navy blues that just look better this close to the Atlantic.

And the Atlantic is close indeed. Newport Harbor is just three blocks away, while Bellevue Avenue, the famous local mansion district’s main drag, is less than that. The lovely First Beach is a ten-minute walk at a leisurely pace, and it’s hard to imagine adopting anything but a leisurely pace around here. In short, though the hotel’s style is edgy by local standards, the location is very much in the middle of historic Newport.

The rooms, at least until you get toward the top of the range, tend to be on the small side, but they’re opened up considerably by big sunny windows and lots of fresh white paint. Designer linens, comfy waffle robes and small details like Keurig coffee machines make it tempting to spend long mornings in the room. But don’t miss breakfast. The sunny café is simple enough in its look, but the baked goods (think cheddar-scallion scones and home-made Oreo-style cookies) put the usual b&b spread to shame.

Breakfast sets the tone for what promises to be a lot of good eating. This is a town that loves its festivals, especially when they’re dedicated to food. There’s Seafood Fest, Oktoberfest, Newport Blues and BBQ, and, especially to the point, the Newport Wine and Food Fest. In fact there are few places in the American Northeast whose calendars so fully reflect a local dedication to leisure. There’s also the America’s Cup sailing championship, the famous Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, the Boat Show, and really, the list goes on. It’s always been easy to have a good time here, and now that there’s a b&b that’s as stylish as it is homey, it’s only gotten easier.